Lawn mower guard device

Abstract

A protective mulching device capable of quickly and interchangeably mounting to a lawn mower housing, wherein a magnetic mounting plate having exposed hook and loop fastener is easily and removably installed on the metal deck of a lawn mower proximate to the discharge opening, and wherein a broom-like strip having an arrangement of bristles on one side and hook and loop fastener on the other side is removably attached to the mounted plate on the lawn mower and is positioned so that the bristles at least partially obstruct the mower discharge opening, thereby encouraging grass clippings to remain within the cutting area for an extended time period, enhancing mulching effectiveness, and discouraging the passage of potentially dangerous projectiles therethrough.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A lawn mower guard device, comprising: 
 a mounting plate having an outer surface and an inner surface;    a bristled member;    a first hook and loop fastener carried by said outer surface of said mounting plate;    a second hook and loop fastener having an exposed surface and a rear surface, said bristled member carried by said rear surface and said exposed surface removably secured to said outer surface of said mounting plate; and    at least one magnet carried on said inner surface of said mounting plate.    
     
     
         2 . The lawn mower guard device of  claim 1 , wherein said bristled member is straw bristles sewn onto said rear surface of said second hook and loop fastener.  
     
     
         3 . The lawn mower guard device of  claim 1 , wherein said bristled member is plastic bristles sewn onto said rear surface of said second hook and loop fastener.  
     
     
         4 . The lawn mower guard device of  claim 1 , wherein said bristled member is plastic bristles fused onto said rear surface of said second hook and loop fastener.  
     
     
         5 . The lawn mower guard device of  claim 1 , wherein said bristled member is metal bristles extending from a substantially flat, substantially elongated plate, and wherein said plate is carried by said rear surface of said second hook and loop fastener.  
     
     
         6 . The lawn mower guard device of  claim 1 , wherein said mounting plate is substantially arcuately shaped.  
     
     
         7 . A mulch enhancing protective device for mounting on a lawn mower comprising: 
 an elongated mounting plate having a magnetic inner surface and an outer surface, said outer surface having hook and loop fastener carried thereby; and    an elongated brush having an inner surface, said inner surface having hook and loop fastener carried thereby for removably securing said elongated brush to said outer surface of said magnetic mounting plate.    
     
     
         8 . The mulch enhancing protective device of  claim 7 , wherein said elongated brush has straw bristles sewn thereto.  
     
     
         9 . The mulch enhancing protective device of  claim 7 , wherein said elongated brush has plastic bristles affixed thereto.  
     
     
         10 . The mulch enhancing protective device of  claim 7 , wherein said elongated brush has metal bristles carried thereby.  
     
     
         11 . A mulch enhancing protective shield device for limiting lawn mower discharge comprising: 
 a substantially rectangular, substantially flat magnetic plate having an outer surface, said outer surface having hook and loop fastener carried thereby; and    a substantially rectangular shield having an upper edge, a lower edge, an outer surface, said outer surface substantially covered with semi-flexible, closely spaced tines, said tines secured proximate to said upper edge and said tines extending past said lower edge, and an inner surface, said inner surface having hook and loop fastener carried thereby for removably securing said shield to said plate.    
     
     
         12 . The mulch enhancing protective shield device of  claim 11 , wherein said semi-flexible, closely spaced tines are straw.  
     
     
         13 . The mulch enhancing protective shield device of  claim 11 , wherein said semi-flexible, closely spaced tines are plastic.  
     
     
         14 . The mulch enhancing protective shield device of  claim 11 , wherein said semi-flexible, closely spaced tines are metal.